For centuries, the Samaritan woman at the well has been read as a scandal. But if you take a closer look at the text, something shifts. Historical context and scholarship reveal that she was far more likely a survivor than a sinner — and reading her through a Western lens has distorted the story. The real story is far more compelling — and it tells us everything about the heart of Jesus.

Three women. All named Mary. All present at the moments that changed everything. We tend to blur them together, or worse, reduce them to a single supporting role in a story we think belongs to someone else. But their stories are among the most dramatic of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection—and definitely worth revisiting.

What if art and history know the Samaritan Woman’s name? What if her story is far more complex, more beautiful, and more dignified than the one most of us were taught? And what if we've been reading her wrong all along?

A RECOMMENDED RESOURCE: I've been sitting with silence a lot the last two years—learning to embrace it, to let it teach me, to serve as an invitation from God himself, waiting for us just beyond the noise of our lives. As we close out the Draw Near Dwell Well series, consider these resources as companions on your journey.

ARTICLE BY CHRISTINE CRAWFORD: Whether you're navigating a painful relationship or supporting someone who is, these seven resources offer helpful insight and healing.

Here's what coping with my crazy little weenie dog's trauma is teaching me about healing from mine +PLUS+ some of the resources I am finding helpful in my journey!

I am on my second read through Humility; The Journey Toward Holiness, and ugh. It is positively ruining my life. In a good way, though.

WHAT WE'RE READING: Is the reason we struggle to trust God because we misunderstand His holiness? Jackie Hill Perry thinks so. We're sharing our thoughts on God's holiness and Jackie's recently released book, Holier than Thou.